Normally, it's extremely rare for me to take a taxi to get anywhere. The few times I've done it, it's usually been health related - like to or from the hospital. I'm used to walking the distance from home to the city centre and back; and taking the bus when it comes to longer distances within the city. Compared to when I first moved to the street where I've now lived for 17 years, the bus communications have deteriorated a lot, though. For one thing, there are fewer bus stops along the whole line, and for another, it doesn't actually go into the very "heart" of the city any more - I only have a choice of two different stops on what I regard as the outskirts of the proper city centre.
And in my present predicament, with a knee contusion and doctor's orders not to walk too much until that has healed properly, pretty much the only alternative is to take a taxi when I need to go into the city centre - including my primary health care centre. I have one or two friends whom I might ask to drive me, if there is a special reason - but then private cars aren't allowed to drive everywhere in the city centre anyway... while taxis are...
Today, I had an appointment for "double vaccination" at the HCC. It's only a 10 minutes drive (if even that), so not all that expensive to take a taxi. I pre-booked one to get there, and it arrived in good time. That journey did not get a five star review from me though. First, the driver almost slammed the door on my injured leg before I had managed to get that properly into the car... He managed to stop at the last second though (before the door actually touched me). But it was close enough to give me a scare! And then, he also didn't drive all the way up to the entrance to the HCC (which is kind of up on a little hill), but stopped to let me off in the street below. (Two weeks ago, the taxi that I was in then did drive up to the entrance, without any special request.) I guess I could have demanded that he did - but then I suppose he'd have had to drive round the whole block again; and I wasn't in arguing mood, and knew that I'd manage the walk (not up the staircase, but up the driveway). So I said nothing - just made mental note to myself to be sure to give clearer instructions from start next time...
My appointment was att 11:15 and to my surprise the waiting room on this day was nearly empty; the nurse came to fetch me even before 11:15, and the two jabs were soon over and done with, and I was free to go...
... back to the waiting room to wrestle with the taxi app again, to book an asap return journey. This time I did include a specific note to the driver to fetch me "at the entrance"... And I could see it arrive from the waiting room, so did not have to go out before it came. I did not have to wait long, but when the taxi came, it was a HUGE one, more like a van, and I realised I wouldn't be able to climb up in it! However, the driver realised that as well, so immediately went to the back and brought an extra device for me to step on to make that easier. And he did the same when we arrived at my address, so that turned out no problem after all.
The booking app asks for a review after each journey... I wasn't in the mood to write comments on the first one (in the waiting room at the HCC), but I gave the second one (after I was safely back home again) five stars because of "helpful driver"...
As mental therapy for myself, I later tried to get Bing Image Creator to recreate the two taxi scenes. I'm not giving Bing five stars either; but considering my rather complicated and at the same time insufficient instructions/details, not "too" bad...
When we're injured we soon discover what many disabled people have to contend with the whole time. Hope you soon heal.
ReplyDeleteOnly too true, Jenny. I have some experience of invisible injuries/disability before but from other body parts. Still have some chronic pain problems in neck-shoulder-arm since way back and adding an unstable knee to the mix now definitely doesn't make things easier to explain the situation as a whole to people who don't already know me & my history well!
DeleteI was using a walking stick before and after my hospitalization last month...and it did get a few people an extra consideration coming my way. Strangely not from other seniors, even those who also used a cane. But those who offered help in opening doors were definitely appreciated. Yes, only some people have any compassion for the disabled! So sorry your first taxi driver was not one of the compassionate ones. And I hope you have no troubles from the vaccines.
ReplyDeleteNoe a funny story, but the pics ARE funny!! A contusion, yikes! I cannot remember how long you have to take it easy, too. Are there different cab companies there? I could never even get up into one of those big cars or trucks, especially the ones with huge wheels. I don't think I could even get up the steps of a bus.
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast between the two drivers! The Bing image illustrates it quite well, even if it's not entirely true to reality.
ReplyDeleteHere, we have "Fahrdienst" (driving services) for people who need to get to and from medical appointments. Sometimes one's health insurance pays for those trips, and there are various providers, such as the Red Cross, Malteser and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund. My parents used them a lot when my Dad needed to see his doctor or for the trips to and from hospital, they were always very kind and gentle with my Dad who, because of his dementia, was scared when he didn't understand what was going on.
My Mum now uses the bus several times a week to get into town and back; she is lucky in having a bus stop three minutes from her flat. Most bus drivers are good, but some pull off before people are seated - not a problem for young, fit folk, but my Mum is 81 and walking with a stick... People on the bus usually offer her a seat when they see her coming in with her walking stick (which of course always matches her outfit - often a talking point for whoever sits near her!).